[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 246 (Friday, December 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75699-75700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30770]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA-2012-0308]
Pipeline Safety: Reporting of Exceedances of Maximum Allowable
Operating Pressure
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA);
DOT.
ACTION: Notice; Issuance of Advisory Bulletin.
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SUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing this Advisory Bulletin to inform owners and
operators of gas transmission pipelines that if the pipeline pressure
exceeds maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) plus the build-up
allowed for operation of pressure-limiting or control devices, the
owner or operator must report the exceedance to PHMSA on or before the
fifth day following the date on which the exceedance occurs. If the
pipeline is subject to the regulatory authority of one of PHMSA's State
Pipeline Safety Partners, the exceedance must also be reported to the
applicable state agency.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cameron Satterthwaite by phone at 202-
366-1319 or by email at
[[Page 75700]]
cameron.satterthwaite@dot.gov. Information about PHMSA may be found at
http://www.phmsa.dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
On January 3, 2012, President Obama signed the Pipeline Safety,
Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011. Section 23 (a) of
the Act amended 49 U.S.C. Chapter 601 to add ``Sec. 60139. Maximum
allowable operating pressure.'' Specifically, Sec. 60139 (b) (2)
states:
If there is an exceedance of the maximum allowable operating
pressure with respect to a gas transmission pipeline of an owner or
operator of a pipeline facility that exceeds the build-up allowed
for operation of pressure-limiting or control devices, the owner or
operator shall report the exceedance to the Secretary and
appropriate State authorities on or before the 5th day following the
date on which the exceedance occurs.
This reporting requirement is applicable to all gas transmission
pipeline facility owners and operators. In order to comply with this
self-executing provision, PHMSA advises owners and operators to submit
this information in the same manner as safety-related condition reports
(SRCR). The information submitted by owners and operators should
comport with the information listed in Sec. 191.25(b), and the
reporting methods listed in Sec. 191.25(a) should be employed.
The reporting exemptions for SRCR listed in Sec. 191.23(b) do not
apply to the reporting requirement for exceedance of MAOP plus build-
up. Specifically, Sec. 191.23(b)(4), which allows for non-reporting if
the safety-related condition is corrected by repair or replacement in
accordance with applicable safety standards before the deadline for
filing the SRCR, does not apply. Gas transmission owners and operators
must report the exceedance of MAOP plus build-up regardless of whether
the exceedance was corrected before five days have passed.
Finally, owners and operators have five days after occurrence to
report exceedance of MAOP plus build-up.
II. Advisory Bulletin (ADB-2012-11)
To: Owners and Operators of Gas Transmission Pipeline Facilities.
Subject: Reporting of Exceedances of Maximum Allowable Operating
Pressure.
Advisory: Section 23 of the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty,
and Job Creation Act of 2011 requires owners and operators of gas
transmission pipeline facilities to report any exceedance of the
maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) plus the build-up allowed
for operation of pressure-limiting or control devices. This requirement
further specifies that such exceedances must be reported within five
calendar days of the exceedance. PHMSA is issuing this Advisory
Bulletin to notify operators to submit information comparable to that
required for Safety-Related Condition reports as outlined in Sec.
191.25(b) for reports of exceedance. The report should be titled ``Gas
Transmission MAOP Exceedance'' and provide the following information:
The name and principal address of the operator, date of
the report, name, job title, and business telephone number of the
person submitting the report.
The name, job title, and business telephone number of the
person who determined the condition exists.
The date the condition was discovered and the date the
condition was first determined to exist.
The location of the condition, with reference to the town/
city/county and state or offshore site, and as appropriate, nearest
street address, offshore platform, survey station number, milepost,
landmark, and the name of the commodity transported or stored.
The corrective action taken before the report was
submitted and the planned follow-up or future corrective action,
including the anticipated schedule for starting and concluding such
action.
These reports must be submitted within five days of the occurrence
using one of the reporting methods described in Sec. 191.25(a). PHMSA
is poised to issue a final rule modifying this regulation to include
electronic mail (email) as an acceptable reporting method for SRCR.
PHMSA encourages gas transmission owners and operators to report
MAOP plus build-up exceedances by emailing information to
InformationResourcesManager@dot.gov. Reports may also be submitted by
fax to (202) 366-7128.
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 18, 2012.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Deputy Associate Administrator Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 2012-30770 Filed 12-20-12; 8:45 am]
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